RESTORATION work at an Alcester church threatened with severe deterioration has begun with the first delivery of new stone to repair its decaying windows.

Donations to St Nicolas Church’s restoration fund has enabled the start of £135,000 repair work to the south-facing window, which needed replacing with a harder stone.

The church’s restoration fund is still short of about £80,000 to complete the same repair work, to replace the north-facing window with 10 surrounding stones.

Chairman of the restoration project Michael Newey said: “We continue to appeal far and wide to ensure that the north face can proceed as soon as the south face is finished.

“With a life of at least 300 years, each new stone purchased will provide a tangible and lasting legacy in the town for donors’ descendants.

“We thank all our donors for supporting the project to date, enabling this essential and important work to progress, and look forward to raising the final total to complete the other side without delay.”

The inner mullions and tracery of the 18th-century windows were replaced in 1871, but the outer surrounds were repaired with overlaid mortar during successive centuries.

Close examination revealed the process concealed the underlying structural decay of the stone used for its 1730s build, requiring it to be replaced with a harder-sourced stone.

The original stone is thought to have derived from the Umberslade quarry used on St Phillips Birmingham Cathedral, which had to be replaced in the 1860s as it weathered so badly.

Donations in envelopes can be placed in the wall safe on right of the porch of the church, on Butter Street, marked ‘Restoration’.

Cheques may be sent to St Nicholas Church Treasurer, 28 Rope Walk, Alcester, B49 5DD, or donations can be made online at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Restoration.